Last construction



Jan. 31, w p FlELD LAST CONSTRUCTION Filed 001:. 26, 1953 wazzwzezzw,

Jan. 31, 1956 w. P. FIELD 2,732,571

LAST CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIII III I United States Patent LAST CONSTRUCTION Walter P. Field, Broc kton, Mass. Application October 26, 1953, Serial No. 388,104

2 Claims. c1. 12-136) This invention relates to two-part shoe lasts having a heel part and a fore part releasably secured together, and more particularly to improvements in the upper or cone portion of the heel part of such lasts. This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 169,941, filed June 23, 1950, now abandoned.

By the present invention there is provided a two-part last construction wherein the cone or upper portion of the heel part is greatly improved, imparting increased strength and durability to .the last even with increased working space for releasing and securing mechanism therein, and affording ease of manufacture of this type of last.

The above and other features of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the dis closures made herein including the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section taken longitudinally of the heel part of a last embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a last top shown apart from the last and illustrating a thimble bore extending therethrough;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a last top from the last, and side;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a last top showing mechanical fasteners extending from its under side;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing mechanism for releasably securing the fore part and heel part together in a last embodying this invention, the broken lines showing the fore part and mechanism in released position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the relation of the last parts and mechanism in a stage of partial release; and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal longitudinal section on line 88 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, there is illustrated a two-part last 10 having a heel part 12 and a fore part 14 releasably secured together.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, heel part 12 has on its cone or upper portion a flat seat 16 which terminates at its forward end in an upright shoulder 18. On flat seat 16 is disposed last top 20 with its forward end abutting shoulder 18. Last top 20 may be composed of one or more layers of suitable material, and is shown as having an upper layer 22 of hard fibre and a lower layer 24 of softer cushioning material. Prong 26 is shown as intermediately flanged at 28. The ends of prong 26 are shown as extending longitudinally into the adjacent abutting surfaces of the upper layer 22 of the last top and the shoulder 18 respectively, whereby the forward end of last top 20 is fixed against vertical movement.

Rearwardly of the prong 26, heel part 12 is provided with heightwise thimble bore 30 which extends downwardly through last top 20 and into the substance of shown apart illustrating rabbeting on its under heel part 12 therebelow. Counterbore 32 may be provided.

Heel part 12 is further provided with heightwise longitudinal slot 34 which intersects thimble bore 30 at 36 and extends forwardly of said thimble bore. Slot 34 is arranged to receive means for releasably securing heel part 12 and fore part 14 together, and transversely disposed holes 38 are arranged for the reception of pins to engage such releasable securing means. 7

Last top 20 is shown as rabbeted on its under side to form a longitudinally extending recess 34:: which registers with and forms a heightwise extension of longitudinal slot 34. Rabbetted recess 34a is shown as extending through lower layer 24 of last top 20 and into upper layer 22 thereof, but as stopping short of the forward end of the last top, thus providing a margin of cushioning layer 24 around theentire periphery of recess 34a (see Fig. 4). Recess 34a affords additional room for the means which releasably attaches heel part.12 to fore part 14.

Thimble 40 is disposed in thimble bore 30 and is shown with outwardly extending flange 42 at its open upper end seated in counterbore 32. Thimble 40 is provided with heightwise longitudinal slot 44 in alignment with slot 34. Through thimble slot 44 a tool may be inserted for releasing securing means disposed Within height-wise longitudinal slot 34. Thimble 40 is securedinposition in any suitable way, as, for example, by prongs 46. Prongs 46 secure the thimble 40 against rotative movement, and against movement outwardly of thimble bore 30. Thimble 40 thus secures last top 20 to the flat seat 16 rearwardly of longitudinal slot 34. Last top 20 may be secured to seat 16 rearwardly of slot 34 by additional means, for example adhesive, or suitable mechanical fasteners as shown at 48 (Fig. 5).

The construction shown in Fig. 1 may be produced in any suitable manner. Thus, the last top 20 carrying flanged prong 26 may be placed on flat seat 16 and driven forwardly so that the forward end of the prong is driven into upright shoulder 18. The last top 20 being held on the seat 16 by suitable means such as adhesive or mechanical fastening, thimble bore 30 and counterbore 32 may be formed by drilling through the last top and into the wood or substance of heel part 12. Where additional space for attaching means as afforded by rabbeted recess 34a is desired, the recess 34a may be formed in last top 20 prior to association of the last top with the heel part, or recess 34a may be formed in conjunction with the formation of longitudinal slot 34.

In Figs. 6 and 7 are shown pivot pins 5'0 disposed in holes 38. The arms of illustrative link member 52 engage the pivot pins 50 when the heel part 12 and fore part 14 are in attached position and also in released position, the latter being shown in dotted lines. When the last parts 12 and 14 are being moved between the positions shown in Fig. 6, there is an intermediate position, as shown in Fig. 7, where the upper arm of the particular link member 52 illustrated extends upwardly into recess 34a in last top 20.

It will be seen that by this invention a rugged and durable construction is made possible for shoe lasts having a heel part and a fore part releasably secured together, while affording ample working space for securing mechanism disposed within the lasts.

It will be understood that various changes may be made while still coming within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a two-part pivoted, collapsible last having a heel part and a fore part releasably secured together, in combination, a flat seat on the cone portion of said heel part terminating at its forward end in an upright shoulder; a

last-top having an upper layer of hard fibre and a lower layer of cushioning material disposed on said fiat seat with the forward end of said last top abutting said shoulder; an intermediately flanged prong the ends of which extend longitudinally into the adjacent abutting surfaces of the upper layer of said last top and said shoulder respectively; said heel part rearwardly of said prong being provided with a heightwise thimble bore extending downwardly through said last top and into the substance of the heel part therebelow; said heel part having a heightwise longitudinal slot intersecting said thimble bore and extending forwardly thereof and upwardly to said fiat seat and arranged to receive pivotal means releasably securing said heel part and fore part together; said last top being rabbeted on its under side to form a longitudinally extending recess registering with and forming a heightwise extension of said longitudinal slot, said rabbeted recess extending into the upper layer of the last top but stopping short of the forward end of said last top; and means for securing the last top to the flat seat rearwardly of said longitudinal slot including a thimble provided at its upper end with an outward flange in engagement with said last top, disposed in said thimble bore, and secured against movement outwardly of said bore, and fastening means rearwardly of the thimble for securing the last top to the last.

2. In a two-part pivoted, collapsible last having a heel part and a fore part releasably secured together, in combination, a flat seat on the cone portion of said heel part terminating at its forward end in an upright shoulder; a last top disposed on said fiat seat with the forward end of said last top abutting said shoulder; an intermediately flanged prong the ends of which extend longitudinally into the adjacent abutting surfaces of said last top and said shoulder respectively; said heel part rearwardly of said prong being provided with a heightwise thimble bore extending downwardly through said last top and into the substance of the heel part therebelow; said heel part having a heightwise longitudinal slot intersecting said thimble bore and extending forwardly thereof and upwardly to said fiat seat and arranged to receive pivotal means releasably securing said heel part and fore part together; said last top being rabbeted on its under side to form a longitudinally extending recess registering with and forming a heightwise extension of said longitudinal slot, said rabbeted recess stopping short of the forward end of said last top; and means for securing the last top to the flat seat rearwardly of said longitudinal slot including a thimble provided at its upper end with an outward flange in engagement with said last top, disposed in said thimble bore, and secured against movement'outwardly of said bore, and fastening means rearwardly of the thimble for securing the last top to the last.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 870,760 Baker Nov. 12, 1907 1,429,702 Treat Sept. 19, 1922 1,625,588 Becker Apr. 19, 1927 1,819,121 Reed Aug. 18, 1931 2,100,278 Field Nov. 23, 1937 2,167,611 Jones July 25, 1939 2,168,292 Jones Aug. 1, 1939 2,386,808 Levaggi Oct. 16, 1945 2,404,805 Levaggi July 30, 1946 2,429,233 Levaggi Oct. 21, 1947 

